Global green news from Croatia, Wales, Dorset, Buckinghamshire…. and even closer to home
The Harriers twice Olympian race walker Dominic King continued his superb form with his second fastest 50km walk and fifth fastest ever in the UK all time rankings. King’s time of 3h 56m 35s in Dudinska, Croatia qualified him for the World Championships in Doha. King went through the half marathon in 1h 38m and the marathon in 3h 17m, a truly superb effort. His 5km splits were very even especially in the first half of the race at 23:09, 23:12, 23:16, 23:11, 23:11, 23:12, 23:31, 23:54, 24:46, 25:14.
Allen Smalls took on the 33 mile Lulworth Cove challenge in Dorset finishing in third place. The off road event boasted 6,600 feet of climb. Fay Smalls completed the half marathon event at the same venue.
The Harriers turned out a 12 stage road relay team at the Southern Road Championships held at Milton Keynes, and for the first time in many years, a 6 stage ladies team at the same event. Although missing some elite men and ladies due to the Colchester Half marathon both teams still did very well against top class opposition with the ladies coming home 19th and the men 31st. The teams were for the ladies Sarah Stradling, Aiko Hennington, Becky Cooke, Stacey Eyres, Heidi Steele and Denise Morley, For the men Edward Mitchell, Paul Rodgers, Adrian Mussett, Doug McGillvray, Nathan Filer, Colin Ridley, Dean Williamson, Tom Cresswell, Chris Sellens, Jon Nears, James Wright, and Cameron Humphries.
Both teams finished as second Essex teams with Woodford Green ladies narrowly beating the Harriers ladies by one place, not helped by the fact that Sarah Stradling was sent on the wrong route, while the men were pleased with finishing only 4 places behind Woodford Green’s mens squad.
There were several top ten finishes at this week’s Park runs. Prolific Park runner Richard Flutter was runner up at the Colchester Castle Park run with Richard Boden sixth. Young Alexandra Bell-Cobbold was the first lady to finish. Kevin McAlinden was fourth at the Cudmore Grove, Mersea Island Park run with Dave Gayer sixth and Ned Messer seventh. Gavin Scanlon was second at Colchester Highwoods, with Debbie Cattermole first lady. David Wright was seventh at the Dolgellau Park run in mid Wales.